In many ways, Tomm Tennent was an incredibly unique person. From the moment he arrived in the world, everyone around him knew he was different from other babies. When he was born, he had excess skin, sufficient enough to cover a five-year-old kid.
Even the doctors were baffled when they saw his wrinkled appearance, as they had never seen anything like it in their medical career. Tomm’s parents, Debbie and Geoff Tennent were also flabbergasted when they saw their baby and didn’t know how to react.
Debbie and Geoff Tennent | Source: YouTube.com/60 Minutes Australia
From his incredible birth experience to his life after that, Tomm and his parents experienced a journey unlike any other. It all started when Debbie and Geoff welcomed their son in a South East Australia hospital in 1993.
Eventually, after years of trying and looking for a clue, they stumbled upon something astonishing.
At the time, they didn’t know how special their baby boy would be. Before Tomm’s birth, his parents couldn’t have guessed that their child would go on to mystify medical professionals. But when they went in for the ultrasounds, they discovered nothing was as expected.
Initially, the Tennents struggled to determine whether or not they would keep the baby. But after discussing the matter, it didn’t take them long to decide that regardless of the consequences, they would go through with the pregnancy.
Tomm Tennent pictured as a baby | YouTube.com/60 Minutes Australia
But while Debbie and Geoff were prepared for everything, they were oblivious to how serious their child’s condition could be. They were taken aback and rendered speechless when they laid eyes on their infant son for the first time.
“When [Tomm] came out, I was quite shocked…I didn’t think a human, or a little baby, could ever look like that,” recalled Geoff about the moment he first saw his son. Of the instance when her baby was placed on her chest, Debbie recounted:
“My heart came up to my throat.”
But at the same time, Debbie was overcome with motherly sentiments and said it felt lovely to cuddle her son. Despite their shocked initial reaction, the Tennents embraced their son, who had too much skin covering almost every inch of his body.
A close up of Tomm Tennent’s wrinkled legs and feet | Source: YouTube.com/60 Minutes Australia
Medical Mystery & the Challenges of Growing Up
Tomm’s never-before-seen skin condition and wrinkled look baffled his parents and doctors. Since they could not decipher the reason behind his excess skin, they didn’t know how to treat it.
After much contemplation, medical experts hoped that, over time, the boy would grow into his skin. But given the youngster’s unique appearance, researchers felt triggered to explore his case further and solve the rather complex genetic puzzle.
Debbie Tennent holds her son, Tomm Tennent, while petting a Shar Pei | Source: YouTube.com/60 Minutes Australia
Tomm was no stranger to hospital visits and stayed in a medical center for two and a half months. There, he had to undergo multiple tests and scans, which were reportedly insufficient in helping the researchers crack the code of his mysterious condition.
Andrew Ramsden, Tomm’s pediatrician, admitted that his case was incredibly challenging because he was the first baby born on record with excess skin, and the doctors had nowhere to turn to for guidance.
Accompanying their little boy on his many doctor’s visits and staying with him in the hospital for months wasn’t easy for the Tennents. But they found their strength and courage from looking at their sweet son, who was a happy tot and didn’t know the magnitude of his condition.
Tomm Tennent is pictured enjoying a bath | Source: YouTube.com/60 Minutes Australia
As time passed, Tomm’s doctors continued researching his condition, hoping to find something helpful. Eventually, after years of trying and looking for a clue, they stumbled upon something astonishing.
Medical professionals drew similarities between Tom’s appearance and the Shar Pei, a Chinese dog breed. They learned that the youngster’s excess skin was due to an oversupply of Hyaluronic Acid, which was 100 times higher than usual.
The same was true for Shar Pei puppies. Provided that the acid levels decreased in Shar Peis as they grew older and their appearance improved, the medical experts hoped for the same for Tomm.
Tomm Tennent pictured combing his hair while looking in the mirror. | Source: YouTube.com/60 Minutes Australia
Fortunately, as the doctors had anticipated, time was the best healer in Tomm’s case. Growing up, the Australian child received immense love and support from his parents. But he also experienced a multitude of challenges.
“Don’t judge people by what they looked like,” noted a young Tomm. Although he had always believed nothing was wrong with him, not everyone reciprocated his sentiments.
People continued to tease him, and he struggled to make friends at school. He felt hurt when kids refused to play with him or include him in their groups.
But instead of retreating and being demotivated by other people’s behavior toward him, Tomm began participating in games and made many friends. Soon, his school experience remarkably improved, and people started seeing him differently.
A young Tomm Tennent | Source: YouTube.com/60 Minutes Australia
While the Tennents were pleased to see their son move forward in life, some memories were etched in their minds. Debbie recollected an incident in a local bakery with Tomm when a woman approached her, questioning her decision to take her son out in public.
But that wasn’t all. The lady reportedly told Debbie that her son “should be kept hidden.” Devastated by the woman’s comments, the Australian mother didn’t know what to say to her then but vowed to care for her son and raise him in the best possible manner.
And as time would tell, Geoff and Debbie felt pure joy and pride seeing their son grow up. They were proud of him for being a good boy and excelling in every aspect of life, including school.
In an exclusive interview in 2003, the then-11-year-old Tomm said he saw a “kind, loving person” whenever he looked in the mirror. He confessed he wasn’t concerned about how his peers viewed him because they didn’t care about his appearance.
From the beginning, Debbie and Geoff taught their son to accept and love himself just as he was. The couple believed that real beauty came from within, and they instilled the same values in their beloved boy.
Their efforts paid off because when Tomm was asked if he would change anything about himself, he responded, “Probably nothing.” With his parents’ affection and his inner strength, Tomm became an exceptionally kind and lovable person.
Days before she died, a courageous young girl was brought down the aisle by her father to marry her school sweetheart
If you ask any parent in the world, they’ll probably tell you that they would do anything for their child. Our lives transform in the most profound ways the day we become parents. We acknowledge that we will take care of, treasure, and worry about the new life we have brought into the world for the remainder of our days here on Earth.
However, regrettably, there are some things that parents are powerless to stop. Each year, far too many children suffer from circumstances and illnesses that are completely beyond their control. Accidents and disease are as much a part of human life as happiness and celebration.
The day Alina and Aaron Edwards found out that their nine-year-old daughter, Emma, had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, altered their entire world. They were dealt a heartbreaking blow when physicians informed them after a few months that there was nothing more they could do to save Emma’s life, despite their obvious anguish and desperation to hold onto the hope that she could overcome cancer.
With the limited time they had left, Emma’s anguished parents resolved to do everything in their power to grant their daughter’s desires. Of course, it goes without saying that the great majority of kids would relish the opportunity to meet a famous hero in such a situation, maybe go to Disneyland or watch their idol compete on the pitch.
Emma, however, had completely different wishes. She requested permission to wed DJ, her ten-year-old boyfriend. After Sunday, I will have so much more to say and so many people to thank, but for now, my brain is simply not working properly, and I
Emma’s campaign quickly gained a lot of support from her neighbourhood. The group of supporters and volunteers took on the moniker “Emma’s Army” and decided to fulfil this young girl’s aspirations before it was too late. Emma’s family eventually received assistance in raising money from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “Most kids want to go to Disneyland, but Emma wanted to get married, be a wife, and have three kids,” Emma’s mother Alina clarified.
Reports state that Emma and DJ had attempted to get married before their “wedding.” When they were eight years old, the two kids attempted to tie the knot in school, choosing their own groomsmen and bridesmaids from among their peers. Sadly for Emma and DJ, though, their teacher would not allow the wedding to take place, no matter how informal.
But this time, their second attempt at marriage had the support of many wonderful people who wanted Emma to have the day of her dreams, as well as the approval of their parents. In less than two days, we put it together, and everything was donated in the end. It came together so beautifully and was so wonderful, Alina disclosed.
When the big day finally arrived, it was recorded on tape featuring interviews with a few guests, including the DJ and the groom. She struck me as the most gorgeous person I have ever laid eyes on. I’ve adored her ever since,” DJ remarked. Alina, on the other hand, was gushing about her daughter’s charming young partner. She sent a tearful message on Facebook that said
Since third grade, DJ has been Emma’s “Boo bear.” I promise that watching these two adorable together will make your heart melt. Her heart leaps when DJ helps and shields her. She adores him. I also know that he adores her! He has supported her through all of her highs and lows, never letting her smile. DJ and his family will always remain connected.
Emma’s big day finally arrived on June 29 when she arrived at the location pushed by her parents in a wheelchair. For the event, she dressed elegantly in purple, and she grinned as her father led her down the aisle. After exchanging vows and rings, Emma and DJ finished the ceremony with a kiss from DJ to his bride.
Emma went back to her bed to recuperate after the wedding, but everyone could see how happy she was to have experienced her special day. After her battle, young Emma passed away a few weeks later on July 11, 2023.
Emma’s obituary stated: “On July 11, 2023, Emma Brooks Edwards passed away and was embraced by her closest loved ones as she entered paradise in the tender arms of her great-grandma Frannie Annie. Emma, then ten years old, fought leukaemia, dubbed “The imposter,” for sixteen months.
The Edwards family was completed with the birth of Emma, our little unicorn, on April 22, 2013, to devoted parents and three elder siblings. She cherished DIY projects, clever jokes, her loved ones, Jesus, and her brand-new “husband,” DJ. To everyone she encountered and to those who loved her, Emma was an inspiration. She was the most wonderful friend, cousin, aunt, “wife,” haha, sister, grandchild, and cousin. Her legacy is one of humour, fortitude, and unending love for everyone.
Emma, rest in peace. A young girl of such beauty, taken far too soon. Please join us in extending our condol
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